Irwin-Hodson to install KBA Rapida 105 Ten Color

Monday, May 19, 2008

Press release from the issuing company

(May 18, 2008) KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Williston, Vermont, announces that Irwin-Hodson, a Portland, Oregon, commercial printing company, has signed a contract to purchase a new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch 10-color long perfector press with double coaters, full conventional and UV capabilities, and a host of KBA's newest technology features. The press will be delivered this summer and will be in operation in the early fall of 2008.

"We see this new KBA press as the perfect tool in our arsenal to differentiate us from our competitors," says T.J. McDonald, president and CEO of Irwin-Hodson. "Purchasing this press keeps us up-to-speed as pioneers of innovation. We'll be able to offer our customers many new specialty techniques as well as broaden the number of products we can offer. Our KBA press will be unique in the West Coast market."

The firm's new Rapida 105 41-inch 10-color long perfector press is equipped with a KBA Logotronic management system, Densitronic Professional scanning XY spectrodensitometer with a new dynamic color control module that can reduce ink-related start-up waste by as much as 80% and speed up ink-key settings, and the revolutionary unique sheet infeed process known as the no-sidelay SIS Sensoric Infeed System. A roll sheeter will help the firm purchase paper more economically in rolls and sheet it themselves according to their needs. The double coater will allow the firm to produce special effects that are highly prized by designers and ad agencies and coat both sides of the sheet in one pass.

To ready itself for the installation, the firm is performing a complete remodeling of its plant and preparing a 130 foot long floor space for the new press. In the near future, the firm will be sending two different groups to KBA headquarters to train on the press; after installation, the firm will have eight weeks of training on site.

"I believe that this KBA Rapida 105 is the best printing press available in the world today," says Ken Kozol, manufacturing manager. "I'm a veteran press operator and I've never seen such futuristic-yet proven-technology on a press that helps a printing firm maximize its potential and provide an amazing array of products to its customers."

Irwin-Hodson has never owned a KBA press prior to the purchase. The firm operates three 40-inch six-color presses with aqueous coaters from a different manufacturer.

"We didn't take this press purchase lightly," says Ricki Lewis, sales and marketing manager for Irwin-Hodson. "But in the end, we felt that this KBA press would help our customers create differentiation in their own market and communicate their message effectively. For us, the KBA press represents value, efficiency, and creates distinction."

"We talked to all the press manufacturers and told them about our vision," recalls Kozol. "They were all uncertain about what they could deliver and were cautious about what they could promise. KBA was the only press manufacturer that gave us confidence in their presses and the assurance of success. They became a full partner in our forward-thinking mentality."

Another key component of the press is its environmental aspects, crucial to the Portland-based printer, which became certified by the Forest Stewardship Council in 2007. The firm wanted to equip its new press with UV capabilities-something it had not used before-for both the environmental benefits and the fast turnaround times.

"Having a press equipped with UV will allow us to cure our sheets immediately, giving us much more efficiency and throughput. But we're also going to recycle the energy used from this press to heat our plant," says Kozol. "We take this commitment very seriously."

The Irwin-Hodson Company's Commercial Print Division provides best-in-class sheetfed offset and digital printing, finishing, distribution and e-services for businesses obsessed with the integrity of their brand as expressed in printed form. Established in 1894, the company has a 114 year history of growth through customer care, printing craft knowledge and pride, and the careful evaluation and adoption of automation and technology.

KBA North America is a member of the KBA Group, a leading global supplier of sheetfed, webfed, and digital offset presses located in Williston, Vermont. KBA is dedicated to excellence in printing technology. The company's greatest satisfaction comes from helping its customers succeed by building presses that enable their businesses to prosper. From engineering through production, KBA's focus is on people, providing flexible technology, customized printing solutions, and personal service to help its partners differentiate themselves and be successful today and in the future.